Derek Oakley

Derek Oakley is a peace worker, trainer and writer. A director of youth organisation Free Radicals, he takes a strong interest in radical art, civil society movements, Africa and Middle Eastern Politics. He is currently participating in the EAPPI programme in the West Bank with the World Council of Churches. He blogs at Critical Path and Yanoun.

As a new documentary by Pablo Navarrete, Jody Mcintyre and Lowkey is being released this summer, Derek Oakley went to a special screening of Navarrete's earlier film "inside the revolution" and reflects on its depiction of Venezuela, Chavez and the people living revolution.

While staunchly denouncing the Assad regime, Saudi Arabia's rulers have stamped down hard on dissent at home, outlawing protests and imprisoning opponents, all with the tacit support of the West. Derek Oakley examines the case of detained poet Hamza Kashgari, currently facing execution over twitter comments.